The Journey With Watson

Guide and Service Dogs changing lives

 

- Michelle Henderson

I first became aware of and interested in S A Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind (GDA) when I met long-time Puppy Raiser, Hilda, and her puppy, Lorenzo. We got talking, and she informed me about puppy raising and what it’s all about.

With our three sons all grown up and leaving home, I was suffering from empty nest syndrome and was looking for something to fill the gap. In January 2016, I became a Puppy Raiser to Watson, a beautiful eight-week-old black Labrador puppy. The gap I had felt growing bigger and bigger was instantly filled. Watson filled my heart and life with love, adventure, learning, practice, joy, some sleep-disturbed nights for his ‘busy-busy’ (toilet training), and lots of shopping for his new bed, toys and treats.

The journey began